Fluorosiloxane optical cladding

Claim 2

A waveguide comprising a light transmitting optical fiber core and an optically clear, elastomeric, cross-linked polyfluorosiloxane cladding in contact with the core, the polyfluorosiloxane having a fluorine content of from 1 to 52% by weight, an elastic modulus of less than about 10 7 N/m 2 , and substantially no fluorine substitution nearer to the silicon atom than the gamma carbon atom.

Claim 3

The waveguide of claim 1 wherein the polyfluorsiloxane has a fluorine content of from 30 to 52% by weight.

Claim 4

The waveguide of claim 1 in which the polyfluorsiloxane is cross-linked poly 3,3,3-trifluoropropylmethylsiloxane.

Claim 5

The waveguide of claim 1 in which the cladding has a refractive index of less than 1.4.

Claim 6

The waveguide of claim 4 in which the cladding has a refractive index of less than 1.38.

Claim 7

The waveguide of claim 1 in which the core is silica, the waveguide having a numerical aperture of at least 0.45.

Claim 8

A waveguide comprising a light transmitting optical fiber core and an optically clear, elastomeric, cross-linked polyfluorosiloxane cladding in contact with the core, the polyfluorosiloxane consisting essentially of the repeating units ##STR3## where each R 1 and R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of (i) alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and (ii) fluorine substituted alkyl groups containing from 3 to 8 carbon atoms with no fluorine substitution at the alpha and beta carbon atoms, wherein sufficient R 1 and R 2 groups are a fluorine substituted alkyl group that the repeating units contain from 1 to 52% by weight fluorine, the cladding having an elastic modulus of less than about 10 7 N/m 2 .

Claim 9

A waveguide comprising a light transmitting optical fiber core and an optically clear, elastomeric, cross-linked polyfluorosiloxane cladding in contact with the core, the polyfluorosiloxane consisting essentially of the repeating units ##STR3## where each R 1 and R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of (i) alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and (ii) fluorine substituted alkyl groups containing from 3 to 8 carbon atoms with no fluorine substitution at the alpha and beta carbon atoms, wherein sufficient R 1 and R 2 groups are a fluorine substituted alkyl group that the repeating units contain from 1 to 52% by weight fluorine, the cladding having an elastic modulus of less than about 10 7 N/m 2 .

Claim 10

The waveguide of claim 7 in which R 1 is the 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl group.

Claim 11

The waveguide of claim 8 in which R 2 is the methyl group.

Claim 12

A waveguide comprising a light transmitting optical fiber core and an optically clear, elastomeric, cross-linked polyfluorosiloxane cladding in contact with the core, the polyfluorosiloxane consisting essentially of the repeating units ##STR4## where each R 1 and R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of: (i) alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; (ii) fluorine substituted alkyl groups containing from 3 to 8 carbon atoms with no fluorine substitution at the alpha and beta carbon atoms; and (iii) polyfluoralkoxy alkyl groups containing up to 8 carbon atoms and at least 2 fluorine atoms with the alkoxy group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and the alkyl group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms with no fluorine substitution at the alpha and beta carbon atoms of the alkyl group, wherein sufficient R 1 and R 2 groups are a fluorine substituted group that the repeating units contain from 1 to 52% by weight fluorine, the cladding having an elastic modulus of less than about 10 7 N/m 2 .

Claim 13

A waveguide comprising a light transmitting optical fiber core and an optically clear, elastomeric, cross-linked polyfluorosiloxane cladding in contact with the core, the polyfluorosiloxane consisting essentially of the repeating units ##STR4## where each R 1 and R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of: (i) alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; (ii) fluorine substituted alkyl groups containing from 3 to 8 carbon atoms with no fluorine substitution at the alpha and beta carbon atoms; and (iii) polyfluoralkoxy alkyl groups containing up to 8 carbon atoms and at least 2 fluorine atoms with the alkoxy group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and the alkyl group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms with no fluorine substitution at the alpha and beta carbon atoms of the alkyl group, wherein sufficient R 1 and R 2 groups are a fluorine substituted group that the repeating units contain from 1 to 52% by weight fluorine, the cladding having an elastic modulus of less than about 10 7 N/m 2 .

Claim 14

The waveguide of claim 7 or 10 in which the polyfluorosiloxane contains at least 30% by weight fluorine.

Claim 15

The waveguide of claim 7 or 10 in which the cladding has a refractive index of less than 1.4.

Claim 16

The waveguide of claim 12 in which the cladding has a refractive index of less than 1.38.

Claim 17

The waveguide of claim 7 or 10 in which the core is silica and the waveguide has a numerical aperture of at least 0.45.

Claim 18

A waveguide comprising a first light transmitting layer and a second elastomeric, optically clear, cross-linked polyfluorosiloxane, light reflecting layer in contact with the first layer and having a lower index of refraction than the first layer, the polyfluorosiloxane having a fluorine content of from 1 to 52% by weight, an elastic modulus of less than about 10 7 N/m 2 , and substantially no fluorine substitution nearer to the silicon atom than the gamma carbon atom.

Claim 19

A waveguide comprising a first light transmitting layer and a second elastomeric, optically clear, cross-linked polyfluorosiloxane, light reflecting layer in contact with the first layer and having a lower index of refraction than the first layer, the polyfluorosiloxane having a fluorine content of from 1 to 52% by weight, an elastic modulus of less than about 10 7 N/m 2 , and substantially no fluorine substitution nearer to the silicon atom than the gamma carbon atom.

Claim 20

The waveguide of claim 15 wherein the polyfluorosiloxane has a fluorine content of from 30 to 52% by weight.

Claim 21

The waveguide of claim 15 in which the polyfluorosiloxane is cross-linked poly 3,3,3-trifluoropropylmethylsiloxane.

Claim 22

The waveguide of claim 15 in which the second layer has a refractive index of less than 1.4.

Claim 23

The waveguide of claim 18 in which the second layer has a refractive index of less than 1.38.

Claim 24

A waveguide comprising a first light transmitting layer and a second, elastomeric, optically clear, cross-linked polyfluorosiloxane, light reflecting layer in contact with the first layer, the polyfluorosiloxane consisting essentially of the repeating units ##STR5## where each R 1 and R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of (i) alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and (ii) fluorine substituted alkyl groups containing from 3 to 8 carbon atoms with no fluorine substitution at the alpha and beta carbon atoms, wherein sufficient R 1 and R 2 groups are a fluorine substituted alkyl group that the repeating units contain from 1 to 52% by weight fluorine, the second layer having an elastic modulus of less than about 10 7 N/m 2 .

Claim 25

A waveguide comprising a first light transmitting layer and a second, elastomeric, optically clear, cross-linked polyfluorosiloxane, light reflecting layer in contact with the first layer, the polyfluorosiloxane consisting essentially of the repeating units ##STR5## where each R 1 and R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of (i) alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and (ii) fluorine substituted alkyl groups containing from 3 to 8 carbon atoms with no fluorine substitution at the alpha and beta carbon atoms, wherein sufficient R 1 and R 2 groups are a fluorine substituted alkyl group that the repeating units contain from 1 to 52% by weight fluorine, the second layer having an elastic modulus of less than about 10 7 N/m 2 .

Claim 26

The waveguide of claim 20 in which R 1 is the 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl group.

Claim 27

The waveguide of claim 21 in which R 2 is the methyl group.

Claim 28

A waveguide comprising a first light transmitting layer and a second elastomeric, optically clear, cross-linked polyfluorosiloxane, light reflecting layer in contact with the first layer, the polyfluorosiloxane consisting essentially of the repeating units ##STR6## where each R 1 and R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of: (i) alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; (ii) fluorine substituted alkyl groups containing from 3 to 8 carbon atoms with no fluorine substitution at the alpha and beta carbon atoms; and (iii) polyfluoroalkoxy alkyl groups containing up to 8 carbon atoms and at least 2 fluorine atoms with the alkoxy group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and the alkyl group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms with no fluorine substitution at the alpha and beta carbon atoms of the alkyl group, wherein sufficient R 1 and R 2 groups are a fluorine substituted group that the repeating units contain from 1 to 52% by weight fluorine, the second layer having an elastic modulus of less than about 10 7 N/m 2 .

Claim 29

A waveguide comprising a first light transmitting layer and a second elastomeric, optically clear, cross-linked polyfluorosiloxane, light reflecting layer in contact with the first layer, the polyfluorosiloxane consisting essentially of the repeating units ##STR6## where each R 1 and R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of: (i) alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; (ii) fluorine substituted alkyl groups containing from 3 to 8 carbon atoms with no fluorine substitution at the alpha and beta carbon atoms; and (iii) polyfluoroalkoxy alkyl groups containing up to 8 carbon atoms and at least 2 fluorine atoms with the alkoxy group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and the alkyl group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms with no fluorine substitution at the alpha and beta carbon atoms of the alkyl group, wherein sufficient R 1 and R 2 groups are a fluorine substituted group that the repeating units contain from 1 to 52% by weight fluorine, the second layer having an elastic modulus of less than about 10 7 N/m 2 .

Claim 30

The waveguide of claim 20 or 23 in which the polyfluorosiloxane contains at least 30% by weight fluorine.

Claim 31

The waveguide of claim 20 or 23 in which the second layer has a refractive index of less than 1.4.

Claim 32

The waveguide of claim 25 in which the second layer has a refractive index of less than 1.38.